Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-24
DISASTER In PRINCESS BAY.
MIR. smith Tells How His Friends Were
Killed by the Thunderbolt.

MIR. smith Tells How His Friends Were
Killed by the Thunderbolt.
NEW YORK, July 23 The tragic death
by lightning of Michael ]. Dixon, the ice
cream manufacturer, and John p. Ryan,
in Princess Bay yesterday, has created a
great sensation in New York and vicinity,
where Mr. Dixon's name was known to
almost every man, woman and child.
There were three men in the party
Dixon and Ryan in one small boat, and
the third man, named Smith, III another.
They were fishing, about two miles from
the Staten Island shore. Suddenly squall
arose, followed by rain and lightning.
Mr.. Smith, in relating his experience to-
day, said Suddenly ! felt as though |
had heavy blow on the top of the head,
and that is the last knew for Il long time.
| heard no Thunder and saw no lightning.
When | came TO was lying on the bottom
of the boat. l was dazed and confused,
and il was minute or more before L no
ticed ANYTHING wrong with the other boat.
Then saw it was filled with water, and
ia gunwales flush with the level
of the sea, and there was no one
visible in it. | got up my
anchor rs quickly as possible and went to
lt Mr.. Dixon was nowhere to be seen,
and Mr.. Ryan was hanging head down out
of the boat in the water. He was nearly
stripped of his clothing, and he hung only
hy a remnant Of his trousers, which had
caught in some way on the boat. 1t
rained 30 hard | could only see little dis
tance around me. held fast To the body
nv the wrist and shouted with all my
power for help. But it was of no use. 1t
vas two miles to land and the storm
drowned my voice.
II managed at last to get an oar In my
right hand, and holding Mr.. Ryan's body
by the wrist with my left, started 10
paddle to shore, towing the corps behind
me. made little progress and | stopped
averv now and then to shout with all my
strength for help. must have worked in
this way fully three-quarters ot an hour
Finally saw boat putting on anu l
knew / had been heard. 1t was benJahih
Westcott who heard me first, and he came
IN me as fast as he could. The storm hau
all blown over now. Following MIR. west
eott three eolored men came out III anotner
hoat The eolored men did not want TO
take the body out Of the water on ac-
connt of the coroner, thinking they might
he violating the law. l insisted, ana we
,,ot II into the boat. | was so exhausted
Sv the work and the shock that could DO
nothing more. lay back in my boat ana
they tOwed me ashore. ,,
The boat was tOwed in to the shore ana
-, -, oy, the beach near where Mr.
Rvan,s BODY was. The boat was Spit
slightly in the bottom, ana the poarus GSi
along the inside were torn loose "nen
the boat was bailed out two ten-eent
nieees. Mr.. Ryan's knife, shirt stud ana
an ivory sleeve button were found among
the fish that were lying in the bottom;
Mr. RYAN was also IN the ice cream bus
mss in New York, and had made con-
si5erable fortune. He was large, nne
looking man of about sixty. He leaves
,O;5o,v and five children. Mr.. Dixon was
ahont AZ wears old. He leaves widow
and two daughters. He possessed extern
s;ya means. His business signs IN the
c;tv and country are everywhere, and MS
carts are legion.
The body of Mr.. Dixon was recovered
this morning, near the spot where IL went
down. The appearance OF the body shower
that Mr.. Dixon was not struck oy hgnt-
nin0 but was stunned by the shock and
throSn overheard, aud was drowned before
assistanee could reach him. The body
vas well preserved and was attired In
s,II snit of clothes. Mr.. Dixon wore
diamond stud valued st So, 600, which was
racoyered